New Type of Infrared and Far Infrared Focal Plane Detector with Very Low NEP

基于近年来观测到的光通量现象，提出了一种新型的红外多像元凝视阵列。该传感器基于简单的约瑟夫森结，是CCD光敏传感器的磁性模拟；一种新的器件几何结构允许光子直接转换为通量子。光子到通量转换过程的量子化性质提供了非常低的NDP。实验表明，在红外和远红外光谱范围内实现单量子灵敏度是可能的。这种探测器阵列将是一种全薄膜、单片、焦平面器件，具有固有的低功耗。将有可能在同一衬底上实现相关的读出电子器件。第一阶段将展示Nb- al203 - Nb Josephson结的光通量效应，并根据结果优化超导光敏像素阵列的初步设计。虽然在第一阶段将使用表征良好的低Tc超导体，但在高Tc超导体中也观察到光通量效应，并且在第二阶段将该技术应用于高Tc材料似乎没有主要障碍。

A new type of infrared multipixel staring array is proposed based upon the recently observed phenomenon of photofluxonics. The sensor is based on a simple Josephson junction and is the magnetic analogue of a CCD photosensor; a novel device geometry allows the direct conversion of photons to fluxons. The quantized nature of the photon to fluxon conversion process affords a very low NDP. Experiments indicate that single quantum sensitivity in the infrared and far infrared range of the spectrum is possible. An array of such detectors would be an all thin film, monolithic, focal plane device with inherently low power consumption. It will be possible to implement the associated read out electronics on the same substrate. Phase I will demonstrate the photofluxonic effect in a Nb-Al203- Nb Josephson junction and, according to the results, optimize the preliminary design for an array of superconducting photosensitive pixels. Although well characterized low Tc superconductors will be used in Phase I, the photofluxonic effect has also been observed in high Tc superconductors and there seems to be no major impediment to implementing the technology with high Tc materials in Phase II.